When should my child see an orthodontist?

By about 7, most kids have their first adult molars and some adult front teeth. That is enough for us to see how the bite is forming, front to back and side to side, and whether there will be room for the teeth still coming in. The jaws are still growing, so some problems are easier to guide now than to fix later.

Here is the part parents like to hear: most 7-year-olds we see do not start treatment. After the check, your child gets one of three answers.

• All good. Nothing to do now. We will tell you when to come back.
• We watch. Your child joins our Seven Up Club, so we can follow growth and new teeth as they come in. No braces.
• Treat early. A small group of kids has a problem that gets harder to fix if we wait, like a crossbite, front teeth that stick out and are easy to injure, or severe crowding. For them, a short first phase of treatment now can make things simpler later.

• Baby teeth lost much earlier or later than friends'
• Trouble chewing or biting
• Breathing through the mouth most of the time
• Thumb or finger sucking that has not stopped
• Crowded or blocked-out teeth
• A jaw that shifts, clicks or sticks out
• Top and bottom teeth that do not meet, or meet in an odd way
• Front teeth that stick out

The first visit is a full hour with one of our orthodontists, and it is free for patients under 18. We look at your child's teeth, bite and jaws and answer your questions. You leave knowing which of the three answers fits your child. No referral is needed. You can book online yourself.

• Is the first Seven Up Club check free? Yes. Consultations are free for patients under 18.
• My dentist has not mentioned braces. Should I still come? Yes. A dentist looks at the health of each tooth. An orthodontist looks at how the teeth and jaws fit together as they grow. The two checks work together.
• Will my child need braces later if we treat early? Sometimes. Early treatment fixes the problem that cannot wait. Some kids still need a second, shorter phase once all adult teeth are in. We explain the likely path at the visit.
• My child is already 10 or 12. Is it too late? Not at all. Age 7 is the earliest we suggest, not a deadline.